Art blooming
By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The Cherry Hill Sun
5/9/2009

Spring marks good weather and Arts Blooms festival at Croft Farm Art Center in Cherry Hill

Spring is blooming in Cherry Hill, but so is the art world, as the township wrapped up its weeklong “Art Blooms” festival. The Croft Farm Art Center several events and helped featured talented township artists, Gaye Pino, chair of the Cherry Hill Arts Board, said.

Local artists flocked to the township, and the Croft Farm Art Center was bedecked with artwork as residents and visitors enjoyed the weeklong event. This was about the 15th time the township has hosted the event, Pino said, which has grown each year it’s been held.

About 120 pieces of artwork were submitted for the festival, Pino said, which were whittled down to about 60 from a juror class that consists of local art professionals. The first year the festival was held, only about 25 pieces were submitted, she said.

Mayor Bernie Platt said the festival has become a tradition in the township and eagerly anticipated each year.

“Art Blooms is a time-honored and important annual celebration of the arts, culture and the renewing theme of the spring season in Cherry Hill. This festival provides an opportunity for everyone in the community, from young to old, to watch and participate in the many acts and exhibitions being offered at our Croft Farm Art Center,” he said. “Making the arts affordable and accessible to our population has been a priority for the Cherry Hill Arts Board, and they have worked many hard and long hours with the township to produce this week long offering at little to no cost to the taxpayer.”

The pieces of art were put on view at the historic barn at Croft Farm for visitors to look at as they attended the various events throughout the week.

The events are the highlight of the week, Pino said, and have proved to be very popular. Many of the events sold out, she said, and were enjoyed by the visitors.

Perhaps the most well-received event was the Senior Luncheon, which was held last Wednesday. About 220 seniors attended the event, which consisted of a small lunch and entertainment. A group called “Hotsy Totsy” performed music from the 40s to the delight of the visitors.

The three-girl band sings in three-part harmony, reminiscent of The Andrews’ Sisters. The music actually brought up old memories for the visitors, Pino said.

“I went through the crowd, and there was an older woman on a walker, crying. She said, ‘this reminds me so much of when I was young.

‘I’m just having such a good time. It’s making me so happy,’” Pino said. “That was really nice to hear. It’s great to know the volunteers and I are doing something that is benefiting the township.”

One member of the art board is a former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra, she said, so the festival has been able to attract several members of the famous orchestra to perform during the festival.

Last Wednesday, the festival hosted a “Concert for Young Music Lovers,” which featured performances from Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Bob Cafaro.

The performance was designed to introduce classical music to children ages 3 and up. More than 50 visitors attended the performance and listened as the professional cellist and an accompanying pianist regaled them with several well-known pieces.

The festival was completely run with the help of volunteers and members of the arts board, Pino said. Ticket sales for the different events completely cover the cost for the annual festival.

“All the arts programs are crying, closing and dying because they’re not getting financial support.

“We’re managing to keep the arts alive in Cherry Hill and expanding without any cost to the taxpayers,” Pino said. “We’re doing it because of the volunteers and the support from the mayor and Council. We’re making a lot of people happy without having a lot of financial resources available. It’s a labor of love from a lot of people.”

For more information on the board’s upcoming events, visit the Arts Board blog at cherryhillarts.blogspot.com.